Rosa hybrida shrub named ‘AUSowlish’

ABSTRACT

A variety of rose plant of the shrub class, named ‘AUSowlish’. The ‘AUSowlish’ is a variety of a rose with blooms that are robust to inclement weather. The flowers are of a peach color, with young buds that are yellow flushed with a soft orange-red, and cupped rosette blooms that have a medium strength tea fragrance. The plant matures into a rounded, bushy shrub with a mid-green foliage and few thorns.

Classification: The present invention relates to a new Rosa hybridashrub of the market class ‘English Rose’.

Variety denomination: The new plant has the varietal denomination‘AUSowlish’.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority to European CPVO 2016/2362,filed Sep. 29, 2016, and United Kingdom Application No. 5/2133, filedSep. 28, 2016, the disclosures of which are herein incorporated byreference in their entirety.

ORIGIN OF INVENTION

This invention relates to a new and distinct variety of shrub rose plantnamed ‘AUSowlish’, which was originated from the cross-pollination ofthe two ‘unnamed’ and unpatented seedlings of Rosa hybrida.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of this breeding was to produce a rose varietywith flowers of peach coloring, with young buds that are yellow flushedwith a soft orange-red, and that form medium-sized, cupped rosetteblooms which are robust and stand up to inclement weather when fullyopened, and that have a medium strength tea fragrance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Among the features which distinguish the new variety from otherspresently available and commercial rose cultivars known to the inventoris the following combination of characteristics: peach colored blossoms,with buds that show some yellow with orange-red sepals as they begin toopen; robust cupped rosette blooms; mid-green foliage; few thorns; and amedium-strength tea fragrance.

Asexual reproduction of the new variety by budding as performed atBowling Green Lane in Albrighton, Britain shows that the foregoing andother distinguishing characteristics come true to form and areestablished and transmitted through succeeding asexual propagations.‘AUSowlish’ may be asexually propagated by budding. The buddingsuccessfully occurred on the plant/rootstock Rosa dumetorum ‘Laxa’ forthe observed plants.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTS

The maternal and paternal parents of ‘AUSowlish’ are two unnamedseedlings. The new rose may be distinguished from its maternal parent,by the following combination of characteristics: the maternal parent hasa more orange coloring, fewer petals and a more lax growth. The new rosemay be distinguished from its pollen parent, by the followingcombination of characteristics: the paternal parent has a more yellowcolor with fewer petals and a more upright growth.

COMPARISON WITH THE CLOSEST COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE CULTIVAR

The closest commercially available cultivars to the new variety are the‘AUSnyson’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,171) and ‘AUSjo’ (unpatented). Thenew rose may be distinguished from the ‘AUSnyson’ and ‘AUSjo’ rosesbased on the color of their buds, while ‘AUSowlish’ has a bud color thatis a combination of RHS 2D (yellow group) and RHS 35B (orange red),‘AUSnyson’ has a bud color of RHS 53A (red group) and ‘AUSjo’ has a budcolor of RHS 20A (yellow orange). Further, when the flower is open thecolor of the ‘AUSowlish’ bloom is RHS 10D (yellow group) compared withRHS 34C (orange-red) for ‘AUSnyson’ and RHS 13C (yellow group) for‘AUSjo’. Finally, both ‘AUSnyson’ and ‘AUSjo’ have many prickles,whereas ‘AUSowlish’ has few prickles.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATION

The accompanying photograph illustrates the new variety and shows theflowering thereof from bud to full bloom depicted in color as nearlycorrect as it is possible to make in a color illustration of thecharacter. Throughout this specification, color references and/or valuesare based upon the Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society(2001) except where common terms of color definition are employed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

Observations of budded ‘AUSowlish’ specimens were made at the nursery atDavid Austin Roses Limited in Albrighton, Wolverhampton, United Kingdom.The following description is of 2 year-old rose plants of the newvariety grown in a garden environment in Albrighton, Britain in themonth of June. Phenotypic expression may vary with environmental,cultural and climatic conditions, as well as differences in conditionsof light and soil.

FLOWER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Blooming habit: Recurrent. The number of blooms per plant during the    growing season is profuse, but there are too many to count.-   Bud:    -   -   Size.—About 1.9 cm long and 1.6 cm in diameter when the            petals start to unfurl.        -   Form.—The bud form is pointed globular.        -   Color.—When sepals first divide, the bud color is RHS 1C            (green yellow group) and RHS 35B (orange-red group). When            half blown, the upper sides of the petals are RHS 2D (yellow            group), and the lower sides of the petals RHS 2D (yellow            group).        -   Calyx.—Shape: opens to a star shape, with the sepals finally            folding back against the stems. Length: 7.0 cm. Diameter:            7.0 cm.        -   Sepals.—Arrangement: Regularly arranged. Color: Upper            Surface: RHS 145B (yellow-green group). Lower Surface: RHS            143C (green group) plus N34C (orange-red group). Length:            24 mm. Width: 9 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Surface texture:            Upper Surface: Downy. Lower Surface: Smooth. Number: There            are 3 lightly appendaged sepals, and 2 unappendaged sepals            with hairy edges.        -   Receptacles.—Color: RHS 143B (green group). Shape: Apple.            Size: Medium, about 1 cm long×0.9 cm wide. Surface: Smooth.        -   Peduncle.—Length: Short, averaging about 9 cm. Surface:            Glandular. Color: RHS 143B (green group). Strength: Normal.-   Blooms:    -   -   Size.—Medium, average open diameter is about 6.5 cm.        -   Borne.—Several together having a rounded shape.        -   Stems.—Strength: Normal, average length is about 15 cm.            Diameter: 5 mm.        -   Form.—When first open, bloom is cupped. Permanence of bloom:            outer petals curl back.-   Petalage: Number of petals under normal conditions: 55.    -   -   Color.—The upper sides of the petals are RHS 10D (yellow            group). The reverse sides of the petals are RHS 10D (yellow            group). The base of the petals has a yellow spot that is RHS            12A (yellow group).        -   Variegations.—None.        -   Discoloration.—The general tonality at the end of the first            day is RHS 10D (yellow group), and at the end of the third            day is RHS N10D (yellow group).        -   Fragrance.—Moderate. Character of fragrance: Tea.-   Petals:    -   -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Size.—Width: 25 mm. Length: 35 mm.        -   Surface.—Smooth.        -   Shape.—Obovate.        -   Margin.—Heavily notched.        -   Apex shape.—Rounded, although notched with some large            incisions.        -   Base shape.—Acute.        -   Form.—Incurved.        -   Arrangement.—Irregular.        -   Petaloids.—Number: Around 15-20. Color: RHS 10D (yellow            group). Length: up to 25 mm. Width: up to 10 mm. Shape:            Narrow obovate. Margin: Irregular.        -   Persistence.—Petals drop off cleanly before drying.        -   Lastingness.—On the plant: fair, about 4-5 days. As a cut            flower: not tested.-   Reproductive parts:    -   -   Stamens.—Number: 60. Length: 1 cm.        -   Anthers.—Length: 3 mm. Color: RHS 14C (yellow-orange group).            Arrangement: Regular around styles with some mixed with            petaloids.        -   Filaments.—Color: RHS 14B (yellow-orange group). Length: 7            mm.        -   Pollen.—Color: RHS 14A (yellow-orange group). Amount:            Abundant.        -   Pistils.—Number: 25. Length: 2 mm.        -   Styles.—Color: RHS 151C (yellow-green group). Length: 1.5            mm.        -   Stigmas.—Color: RHS 151C (yellow-green group). Length: 0.5            mm.        -   Hips.—NONE Observed.

PLANT CHARACTERISTICS

-   Plant form: Shrub.-   Plant growth: Medium.-   Age to maturity: 1 years.-   Mature plant: Height: 1 m 20 cm. Width: 90 cm.-   Rootstock: ‘Dr. Huey’ in the U.S. and Rosa dumetorum ‘Laxa’ for the    observed plants in the UK.-   Foliage:    -   -   Number.—Leaflets on normal mid-stem leaves is: 5 mostly            (including terminal leaflet).        -   Size.—Medium, about 13.5 cm long×11 cm wide.        -   Quantity.—Normal. Number of leaves per flowering stem is:            10.        -   Color.—New foliage: Upper side: RHS 152B (yellow-green            group). Lower side: RHS 184B (greyed purple group). Old            foliage: Upper side: RHS 146A (yellow-green group). Lower            side: RHS 137D (green group).-   Leaflets:    -   -   Size.—About 6 cm long×4.2 cm wide.        -   Shape.—Round.        -   Base shape.—Obtuse.        -   Apex shape.—Acuminate.        -   Texture.—Leathery.        -   Edge.—Serrated.        -   Serrations.—Single.        -   Petiole.—Color: RHS 143C (green group) with RHS 184B            (greyed-purple group). Length: 4 cm. Width: 2 mm. Surface            Texture: Glandular with prickles on underside.        -   Petiole rachis.—Color: RHS 184B (greyed-purple group) with            RHS 143C (green group). Underside: with prickles.        -   Stipules.—Length: 3 cm, smooth with glandular edges. Color:            RHS 143C (green group).        -   Auricle.—Shape: Lanceolate. Length: 12 mm. Width: 2 mm.            Color: RHS 143C (green group).        -   Vein color.—Color: Same as leaf color.        -   Venation pattern.—Reticulate.-   Wood:    -   -   New wood.—Color: RHS 184B (greyed-purple group). Bark:            Smooth.        -   Old wood.—Color: RHS 143C (green group). Bark: Smooth.-   Branching habit:    -   -   Number.—4.        -   Branching dimension.—Length: 40 cm. Diameter: 5 mm.-   Stems:    -   -   Mature stem.—Length: 60 cm. Diameter: 7 mm.        -   Internode distance.—6-7 cm. The above measurements are all            variable, depending on growing conditions in a season.        -   Stem pubescence present.—No.-   Prickles:    -   -   Quantity.—On main canes from base: Few. Number per stem            length: 5 per 10 cm. On laterals from main canes: Few.            Number per stem length: 3 per 10 cm.        -   Form.—Deep concave.        -   Length.—4 mm.        -   Color when young.—RHS 143C (green group).        -   Color when mature.—RHS 166C (greyed-orange group).-   Small prickles:    -   -   Quantity.—Main stalk: None. Laterals: None.-   Disease resistance:    -   -   Powdery mildew.—Resistant.        -   Downy mildew.—Resistant.        -   Blackspot.—Resistant.        -   Rust.—Resistant.-   Pest resistance: Not tested.-   Winter hardiness: Not tested.-   Growing conditions: Normal garden conditions.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of rose plant of theshrub class, substantially as herein shown and described.